if jaime was around, reno couldn't be far. and if reno was in these parts, colt wondered how many others he'd managed to rustle up.
the rat swaggered along with an unearned confidence. or maybe he had earned it.
colt was a bad man.
Long black legs, lean and well muscled tore up the ground. Amalia was pushing her body to it's limit today. Gentle pants, adding an even cadence to her breathing as she ran. She knew the drop was coming. And with a happy bark of laughter, she reached the end and sored. She landed hard, but her legs and paws took the brunt. She wouldn't be able to do that often, damage her feet, but once or twice. Not so bad.
Sunlight dappled her black pelt with dancing lights, and her brown tipped tail waved behind her. She loved it here.
They won't be back until the end of July, beginning of August. So I will elude to the fact that she comes back because it takes less time for her to travel to and fro, to freshen the borders.
sounds good!
colt watched the other run through. his red eyes narrowed. it was a woman if he had to assume, though as she landed he began to strut toward her like a plucked rooster.
"howdy, ma'am," he purled in a rasp. pretty thing, wasn't she, with the spring green eyes against the black fur. she smelled of pack, however. colt wasnt keen to be run out on a rail when he'd only just gotten here.
but a man had needs. he eyed the woman. "yew from around here?" he spit birchbark juice into the grass and grinned at her with yellow teeth.
Amalia was not alone. A sixth sense, made her turn, and the man that strutted towards her like a half cocked rooster, surprised her. What on earth was he doing? The gentle strut that she had seen with Reno, this one had the same swagger, but his wasn't as endearing.
Unkempt fur, though it was a pretty color, unusual pattern. But the eyes that stared at her were blood red. It was, unsettling. However, the voice the curled around her was full of body. Much like the accent Reno had. The one she enjoyed so much. And this one, she liked just as much. There was something about the smoky sound of it.
The spitting was disgusting and she felt displaced for a moment, but she shook her head.
Hello.
Jade eyes took in his face, she supposed he wasn't terrible to look at. But his manners left a lot to be desired.
I am my pack is that way.
She pointed towards Natigvik. She wasn't about to tell him she was alone. That seemed unsightly.
that way was not "here." and that was enough for colt. he ambled a little closer then stopped.
it had been a long time since he was near a woman. the rough and tumble kind who joined gangs and left them, they weren't his type.
"the name's briggs," he told her. "i seen the kind of people what come through here. but yew. yer different."
colt gave her what he approximated to be a charming look.
Amalia was not expecting him to move so close, but he was still respectful she supposed. So she could handle that. Void had soured her optimistic view of others in a sense, and now she was not as certain everyone was kind or willing to be kind. Most of the time they wanted something.
Hello Briggs.
She offered him a smile. I'm Amalia.
Mind raced to the wolves she had met, what did he mean. The kind of people came through here? Most were kind or at least decent weren't they. She chuckled quietly.
Is that so? And what makes me so different. Mr. Briggs.
colt smirked. "well, for starters yer a sight prettier than any of em." he looked at the ground and shuffled his paws a bit. women tended to enjoy the self-deprecating boys.
with broken-hearted ladies and a string of bastards back to the rio grande, colt was far from a boy. but she didn't need to know all that.
"amalia. a pleasure." she called him mister. colt liked that. a man could get used to being addressed in such a way. "i jes mean, the folks around can be a bit selfish is all." he used his peripherals to check that they were still alone, blinking red eyes at her. "say, were yew out for a jaunt? fancy a bit o'company while i get the lay of the land?"
As always with Amalia, she offered a compliment with a compliment. He shuffled his feet, almost shy. She smiled warmly at it. Perhaps she had been wrong to judge him so harshly upon first meeting. His manners had improved.
Amalia frowned in thought. The few she had met with the exception of Void had been kind. And he wasn't selfish, simply miss informed and a little pushy. Then you've met some that I haven't. Most i've met have been kind.
She nodded her head. I'd love company. Tell me about yourself, Mr. Colt. Did you travel far to get here?
mister once more. he drew himself up a bit, the ragged ends of his unkempt pelt bristling in the light. "aye. traveled a fair piece yew could say. course, if faces like yers are at the end of a long an' dusty road, then i reckon i ain't got a single complaint."
she was a bit beautiful for his ramshackle appearance but colt had cultivated how best to fake the chosen archetype.
he was a chameleon. "what about yew, miz amalia? yew lived in this valley for a while?"
Amalia smiled at his drawn up appearance. He must not be used to such manners as she. A bath and some gentle kindness to his pelt and she'd bet it would stay down just fine.
Amalia laughed and shook her head. You're a charmer aren't you Mr.
She blinked at him a little bit of a saucy smile on her face. Amalia had a brother and cousins. She knew how it worked.
I bet you say that to them all don't you.
She teased good naturedly.
Too late she realized her mistep. She had eluded that she was from here, while saying she had met nice ones. He was a sharp one, wasn't he. She nodded. A fair while. A few weeks, perhaps. I've lost count. It is very nice here. A good place to live. Prey is numerous and there are many territories. Quite a few packs though. Watch for borders.
aha, they understood one another. colt felt more secure in his pursuit of her. there was nothing else to do but sink his energies into getting what he wanted. he wondered if the polite miz amalia was daring under her glossy raven coat.
"oh, now. i don't know who yew've crossed me with, ma'am, but i have never talked to a woman in my life." his lips twitched; it was a joke. being good with humor often meant you'd be good with the fairer sex.
amalia told him a bit about the land, which he appreciated. "rich place, aint it?" almost fetching save for the bit about multiple packs and borders.
there was a stand of pine trees not far off. colt surreptitiously ambled in a slow aim for that spot.
Amalia was finding humor in the situation and she found him good company mostly. Amalia chuckled. You lie like a fur, Mr. Briggs. I bet you left a trail of broken hearts and sad faces. You're just too charming for your own good.
Amalia took a deep breath of the air and nodded, closing her eyes for a moment. It really is. You should see the mountain. Now that's a sight.
She thought of the mountain, and the wolves she had met. So many new wolves coming here. She wondered what it meant.
no matter what amalia felt, colt had already made up his mind about having her. he knew nothing of her introduction to reno, but it would have made all of this a far sweeter triumph.
"yew gotta be handsome for all that'n sich," colt replied. "never had the looks to be a ladies man." but had that ever stopped him? look at the bastard now, swaggering along with a lovely woman at his side.
"reckon the only sight i need is right here, miz amalia." colt grinned, teasing her a bit with a testing grin.
Amalia frowned at his words and shook her head. Her kindness shining through. Now there are other important things. Looks are fine things, but they don't always last. Personality. Kindness. Those are important things.
She felt that, that was true. Were she privy to his thoughts she would have gave him a proper dressing down. No one could have her. She was not an item to be bought.
Amalia chuckled again. See told you. Charmer. I bet that silver tongue gets you in all sorts of trouble. Tell me how many angry husbands?
colt chuckled broadly. "yew think the worst of me!" he exclaimed with faux chagrin. was he so transparent? and was she charmed? he'd found a few women who saw his wealth of experience as a plus rather than a negative, but he doubted she was among that number.
"are yew sayin' i'm charmin', miz amalia?" his voice was half in jest and half in want, just a touch of it peeking out like a dead hand from beneath a rug thrown over a body. "i spose i did love, once or twice." the red eyes took on a melancholy air. "some things are pure enough to break yer heart."
Amalia shook her head, laughter in her gaze. I wouldn't say I think the worst of you. But I have brothers and pack members. Some of which were ladies men. They have used some of those same lines, though not near as nice or accented. They sound better with your accent.
She tilted her head, wondering what it was he wanted. She thought she knew, but she hoped not, because she didn't wish to disappoint him, but he was not getting any piece of her only friendship.
Of course you are charming, Mr. Briggs. Devilishly so.
She smiled kindly. I imagine love can break your heart sometimes.
oh, was she onto him then? colt wanted to snap that there weren't a man around who could hold a candle to the things he'd seen and done, but that really would go and muck it all up.
the tree copse loomed closer, but now colt wasn't sure at all that the effort he'd put in would pay off. he was a little annoyed and turned his ragged face away with a chuckle, but when he looked back at the woman, he was collected once more.
"aye. love. a fickle thing, ain't it, miz amalia?" colt grinned. "now, you said there were packs in the area? won't you tell me a little about em? mayhap one might have use of a scrapper like me." it was a lie but colt enjoyed creating his own realities.
Amalia was unsure as she realized he had been heading towards a shady spot. But he had been pleasant company. Despite her initial feelings about him. She wouldn't mind spending time in the future perhaps.
Amalia smiled at him her tail wagging. Theres quite a few. Im part of Natigvik, theres moonglow, and at least 10 others that i dont know thr names of theres 1 more around here i believe. Im sure any pack would be glad to have you.
"which one is yers?" natigvik had some sort of ring to it he knew he couldn't pronounce. it felt — foreign, and triggered colt's xenophobia. he liked the sound of moonglow, though he found it far too soft for his liking.
smoothly he moved away from the trees, arcing back into the cuesta. she was the type to be wooed and courted. but colt briggs knew he couldn't hold up a deception that long. "might'n set down roots here. at least for a bit."
Amalia smiled. Natigvik is mine. It took me a bit to learn to say it.
and it had been hard, but she had liked it once she figured it out. It fit her leaders well.
Amalia wagged her tail. Well then we'll have to have more chats then if you'd like that is.
Amalia was always happy to speak to well in most cases at others. She was a talkative thing.
She momentarily wondered about asking him about Reno, their accents familiar, hut something stayed her tongue. She remebered his words. He had done things just cause others did and it hadn't sound good. Though he hadnt said so.
"briggs" felt like their time was coming to a close. the better for it; he'd be free up to chase far less eloquent tail.
he couldn't deny that her company had been refreshing. she said the name of her pack and colt was glad he hadn't attempted it himself. "mayhaps yew might let me walk yew back, miz amalia," he said with a courtly tip of his ragged head.
last from me. Thank you so much darling.
She nodded her head.
Yes please.
She didn't fully understand the unspoken lines in their conversation. And perhaps that was her naivety, but she had enjoyed the conversation. Not as much as she had with Cerne or Reno, but it wasn't awful.
Though she wondered at her want to not speak of Reno. And that filled her with something she couldn't describe. Shake of head she was ready to go.
<3!
colt would swagger alongside her as far as she'd let him.
like a gentleman, he would bow humbly there and go no further.
unlike a gentleman, he would feast his eyes on her retreating flanks, turning away with a rueful whistle to find easier company.
easier company was rarely the sort he fancied. he hoped he'd see her again, even if it was an idle thought.